Sophomores were asked various questions on the theory of sophomore slump. The students were interviewed on how their year is going and whether or not it is what they anticipated. All sophomores agreed that their main struggle is academics within their sophomore year. Theories that were heard about sophomore year were shared by the current students and further talked about.
The students were asked if their sophomore year has been enjoyable so far academically. The majority of students in favor of the answer no; the sophomores agreed that it has only been good in a social way. The sophomores discuss how sophomore year is a big adjustment transitioning from freshman year.
Sophomores agreed that this year offered the most academic difficulty.
“Sophomore year is a big shift from freshman year because being a freshman you have more leniency,” says Maddie Hanna.
Many sophomores were fearful to start this year off, due to the various rumors that were told to them. A series of ruined GPA’s, decreasing grades and heavy work loads intimidated the upcoming sophomores–especially for the students that heavily rely on good grades. They were fearful of their overall averages decreasing.
The students express their fears while entering sophomore year.
“I think the rumors of classes ruining your GPA scared a lot of people,” Hanna says.
All the sophomores that were interviewed believed in the rumors of sophomore slump. The specific rumors they heard varied from your GPA being ruined, difficulty in classes, stricter teachers and loss of friendships. These reasons were the overall reasoning behind the scarce sophomore year.
Some rumors were shared by the sophomores.
“I heard classes were really difficult,” says Hanna.
“I heard certain teachers were more strict,” says Juliet Purcell.
“I heard certain classes ruined your straight A’s,” says Brook Davis.
“The classes and grades were hard to maintain along with friendships,” says Nat Caldwell.
“I heard that sophomore year would hit me in the second quarter due to the workload, and it did,” says Elliana Cavanaugh.
Classes that display the most difficulty for the students this year are Chemistry 1 and Honors Algebra 2. Hanna explains how the sophomores that choose advanced classes have a hard time maintaining their motivation and success.
Hanna gives us insight on sophomore year.
“These classes are advanced and more fast paced. A lot of sophomores that take these classes are learning alongside juniors which makes it more difficult to reach the expectation of success,” says Hanna.
Sophomore slump is defined in similar ways throughout all the interviewed sophomores. Stress, exhaustion and falling behind are key examples of what make sophomore year the most difficult to maintain. A majority of the sophomores feel that this year is just the start to the other difficult years of high school.
The students experience academic burnout and are mentally drained.
“Feeling academically overworked and stressed out causing your motivation to decrease,” says Purcell.
“Feeling exhausted and overwhelmed from school work,” says Hanna.
“Classes make me feel burnt out emotionally and academically,” says Davis.
“Getting to the point where you have no motivation to excel in classes that determines your career,”says Caldwell.
“Falling behind on your work and realizing how difficult the work is,” says Cavanaugh.
